Find information about Course Reserves at UC Irvine Libraries on our website, and refer to the main page for information on how faculty can add their affordable courses to this list.
This list includes course materials collected over the past academic year which are known to be required or recommended and either low or no-cost to enrolled students. When you find your course, you'll see whether the materials are required or recommended, along with a link to where you can find the resource.
The Low and No-Cost Course Materials List is now embedded in the planner section of AntAlmanac. Once a class is selected, the icon can be found on the right hand side, if there are any low/no-cost materials for that class, appearing in a green font named "$Low-Cost Materials". Then you're redirected to this website where you're able to view course materials needed or recommended for the course!
AntAlmanac, built by students and maintained by the Projects Committee in the ICS Student Council, is a website designed to aid students with course searching and planning. For courses, you're able to see grade averages, the prerequisites, enrollment status, professor ratings, a description of the class, and it displays the classes you choose on a scheduler, easily seeing the times and days of each. It's great to plan out your schedule for the quarter and see the resources it displays all in one place.
Pick the term - Click the yellow tabs on the top left (Fall, Winter, etc.) and choose the quarter you are interested in searching.
Search your class - Use the search bar to type your course number, department, or professor's name.
Filter for Low/No Cost Courses - Click the yellow "OER" button to view courses using only no-cost course materials.
Navigating the table - Use the -/+ slider at the bottom right to zoom in and out of the grid. You can also click the expand icon to view the table in a larger, full-screen view for easier reading.
Low and No-Cost Course Material Search Tool
FAQs
What does "Link" mean?
- The link option opens the library record for the course material. This page shows more details about the textbook, including whether it is available as a physical copy, ebook, or both. From there, you may also be able to access ebook chapters, view multiple ebook options, and see if other editions are available.
Can I rely on the Low/No Cost materials for the entire quarter?
- Usually, yes, but it depends on the type of material. Please note that not all library licensed material is available in unlimited user models, where the full class can view at the same time, simultaneously. When we have limited user access, you may be asked to return to access the material at a later time.
What materials are included and which aren't included?
- The list defines course materials as textbooks, workbooks, homework systems, software, courseware, and other required learning content, and excludes technology (like clickers, calculators, etc.) and supplies that are often reusable from other courses.
Why isn't my course listed?
- Courses may not be on this list because
- faculty have not provided information about their required text(s)
- information has not been processed, or
- the cost of the required text(s) may be greater than $30.
Is this "Low-Cost" pricing based on discounted materials?
- These courses are affordable by design, not by what discounts students can find. These are "new" textbook prices and consider the lowest cost of the item available per faculty instruction. If print is $50 and the eBook is $25, then the course can be marked as low-cost.